Clemson University to Trial Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Technology

This article  is from Market Watch The Wall Street Journal 

Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) announced today that it will participate in the 2012 Apollo Launch Program hosted by Evatran(TM), the developer of Plugless Power wireless electric vehicle recharging systems. The Apollo Program aims to encourage electric vehicle adoption across the United States through the launch of a convenient recharging alternative to the repetitive plug-in, unplug process.

The Plugless Power system allows a user to avoid the plug-in process traditionally required by electric vehicles (EV). The wireless system provides the driver with parking guidance upon approach and automatically begins charging once the vehicle is in position. When the driver is ready to depart, the system automatically discontinues the recharging process.

Clemson University, as one of the Department of Energy's GATE Centers of Excellence, is participating in the Program to research technologies that may influence the development of advanced drivetrains and electric mobility as a whole. CU-ICAR is actively developing a portfolio of research activities and services around the ecosystems for sustainable mobility and the networked vehicle. To that end, Clemson University is also collaborating with Duke Energy, another Apollo Program participant, to understand how electric vehicles may interface with the electrical grid.

"The Apollo Program fits perfectly with CU-ICAR's efforts in a holistic view of alternative power train solutions and their infrastructure implications," said Dr. Joachim Taiber, Research Professor at Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research. "We are very pleased to be part of the trial and are confident the Program will lead to significant advances in understanding key aspects of wireless infrastructure."

Additional partners will be announced at the Apollo Launch Event scheduled for February 23rd, 2012 in Richmond, Virginia with installations beginning in March 2012. Once installed, the participants will trial the wireless charging systems for three months and provide feedback on usage and features. More information on the Apollo Program can be found on Evatran's website.

About Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research

Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) is a 250-acre advanced-technology research campus where university, industry and government organizations collaborate. CU-ICAR offers Masters and PhD programs in Automotive Engineering and is conducting leading-edge applied research in critical areas such as advanced product development strategies, sustainable mobility, intelligent manufacturing systems and advanced materials.

CU-ICAR has industrial-scale laboratories and testing equipment in world-class facilities available for commercial use as well as a comprehensive computational center, dedicated to solving clients industrial problems, and backed by a massive high-performance computing infrastructure.

About the Apollo Trial Program

The Apollo Trial Program is an initiative started by Evatran(TM), the developer of Plugless Power(TM) wireless recharging technology, to encourage electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Through partnership with five electric vehicle industry leaders from various market segments including Duke Energy and Clemson, the Program aims to increase awareness of wireless charging technology by setting up prototype trials across the country. Installations focus on commercial partners with Nissan Leafs or Chevrolet Volts in their fleets and Evatran is working with Yazaki North America(TM), a Tier 1 automotive supplier, to develop the prototypes for the trial.